Pharmacy in charge of Covid vaccine rollout at Aylesbury Odeon blames staff 'miscommunication' over 'free-for-all'

Yesterday, numerous reports were sent to The Bucks Herald and circulated on social media claiming people were being 'pulled off the streets' by family and friends to Aylesbury Odeon to be vaccinated. There were eyewitness claims that many were also being encouraged to call their families to come down and have theirs too.

It started a fierce debate on social media as to whether this is right or wrong. Some argue that now the top four most vulnerable groups have been vaccinated it is a case of the more the merrier and ensuring no vaccines go to waste.

Others feel older, more vulnerable people and frontline staff such as teachers deserve to have theirs first in a more organised fashion.

"It was essentially a vaccination free-for-all," one eyewitness told The Bucks Herald.

"People were being offered the vaccine and were being told to invite friends and family along to get their jabs too. Personally I don't have an issue with it as the more the merrier in terms of all of us getting the jab and getting back to normality as soon as possible. But I also get the other side of the argument that others who are older or key workers and frontline staff should get theirs or at least be offered the opportunity to get it."

It is believed that a large proportion of Aylesbury's Thames Valley Police Force were vaccinated yesterday, but there was a large proportion of vaccines left over, which prompted staff to offer them to the public on a first come, first served basis.

A statement from Pharmacy2U, who administer the site acknowledged the incident and released the following short statement in response to the reports.

“We are aware of this isolated situation at the Aylesbury site yesterday, which was a result of a miscommunication from a new staff member.

"The issue has now been resolved.”